The Finland-based maker of equipment used in the mining and oil and gas industries closed its manufacturing plant on Arch Street in March 2016, eliminating 80 jobs in the process.

Buy Photo

Bill Hynes, CEO and founder of UFD, stands inside one of the former Metso buildings that he plans on renovating.(Photo: Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record)

The buildings have been an abandoned eyesore since, Hynes said. UFD's office — in the historic building that was once home to Maple Press and Bi-Comp — overlooks the Metso site from across some railroad tracks.

From the outside, the Metso building looks like it would need to be torn down, Hynes said. But redevelopers see great potential in the disused factory and are giving it a second lease on life. So instead of seeing a vacant building when he peers out his office window, Hynes sees the potential for a shopping center, a restaurant, a music venue — maybe even a fitness center.

"I want people to drive up the road and see this space filled — people outside, talking, maybe sitting outside having a drink," Hynes said. "I want them to get a real sense of community."

Gateway into the city

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Buy Photo

The Metso complex as it is viewed from Arch Street looking across the railroad tracks in York. Metso Corp. closed down its manufacturing facility in York in 2016, but the old buildings may soon have new life. The rough brick buildings have been purchased by Bill Hynes, CEO and founder of UFD. Plans for the site are still being negotiated, but Hynes envisions the former Metso space becoming the new gateway to York. Hynes said the 13-acre land could become the space for a fitness center, music venue, restaurants and boutiques. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

Looking where Loucks Mill Road connects to Arch Street. Under a plan by Bill Hynes, CEO and founder of UFD, the curve could offer a new dramatic gateway to the York. Metso Corp. closed down its manufacturing facility in York in 2016, but the old buildings along Arch Street may have new life soon. The rough brick buildings have been purchased by . Plans for the site are still being negotiated, but Hynes envisions the former Metso space becoming the new gateway to York. Hynes said the 13-acre land could become the space for a fitness center, music venue, restaurants and boutiques. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

Bill Hynes, CEO and founder of UFD, looks over artist renditions in a recently gutted building in the former Metso complex. In the background, is one of the buildings that is most visible when entering York from Loucks Mill Road. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

Looking west on Arch Street where it intersects with Loucks Mill Road. Metso Corp. closed down its manufacturing facility in York in 2016, but the old buildings along Arch Street may have new life soon. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

An artist's rendering of what one of the former Metso buildings might look like from the intersection of Arch Street and Loucks Mill Road. Metso Corp. closed down its manufacturing facility in York in 2016, but the old buildings may soon have new life. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

Bill Hynes, CEO and founder of UFD, inherited the whistle used for Christmas Eve concerts when he bought the Metso complex. The whistle was installed in the building when it was moved from the New York Wire building. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

Charles Markle has lived in his home along the 200 block of Arch Street for nearly 46 years. He bought the little white house with his wife in 1973. Back then, there were a lot more homes in the neighborhood, he recalled — more families, more kids running around.

His home sits adjacent to the parking lot Metso built when it acquired the space. The lot used to be filled with rowhouses just like Markle's.

Markle likes the idea of the Metso property becoming a place for people to gather.

"We need new blood around here," the 74-year-old said.

Jade Markle, his 22-year-old granddaughter, grew up in the neighborhood. She's lived in that house with her grandfather all her life.

And in the past 10 years, she said, the neighborhood has become somewhat "empty."

"It's changed around here," Jade said. "With all the shootings, the crime — no one wants to be around here."

She's looking forward to change, she said, echoing the thoughts of Grayson Bogden, one of her neighbors on Arch Street.

Bogden,19, has lived on the block for two years now with his older brother. He said the buildings just sitting there, taking up space in the neighborhood, have been an eyesore. He said he would like to see a restaurant or arena built there instead.

Buy Photo

An artist's rendering of what one of the former Metso buildings might look like from the curve that connects Arch and Loucks Mill Road.(Photo: Submitted, York Daily Record)

Potential renters are interested in converting part of the area into office space, while a restaurant might pop up on the other side, Hynes said. Other possibilities include building a music venue and rooftop bar, plus a company is interested in using part of the building for a fitness center.

It is too early in his negotiations to share names of any of these potential suitors, Hynes said.

"There's 13 acres of land here ... that's a lot of space," Hynes said as he walked through the vacant building Monday afternoon. "We don't have to just choose one of those ideas, we could use this space to make it all happen."

And the plans for the Metso space could extend past this neighborhood. It connects Route 30 just east of Interstate 83 to the downtown, making what could be, as Hynes and York Mayor Michael Helfrich have said, the perfect "gateway to York."

"One of the first things people see coming into York around the bend is the Metso site," Hynes said. "If we get people in there, we can get them into the city."

Blanda Nace, who was recently appointed the executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of York, sees the Metso site as a opportunity to show the nation that York is ripe for business.

The location and size of the site, Nace said, offers a regional draw to the city.

"If it's the right restaurant or office tower, or whatever," Nace said, "people will come."

Helfrich said he's excited about the idea of an entertainment complex that would include sports and music in that space, but he's more interested in the possibility for startups in the area.

"It's great to bring people in town with entertainment and stuff like that, but my focus is on lifting the economy of the families of York," Helfrich said. "If we can do that, we can get people out of survival mode, we can reduce the crime, we can improve the education — we can do everything if we can help lift people out of poverty."

In June, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development designated five areas in York City — including the Metso property — Qualified Opportunity Zones, offering capital-gains-tax breaks in exchange for investments in low-income areas throughout the city.

Buy Photo

An artist's rendering of what one of the former Metso buildings might look like from Arch Street.(Photo: Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record)

"That will attract tenants and other people who want to invest in the site and put their business there," Hynes said. "Plus it's going to give startups and existing companies a place to live, work and play."

Hynes said his hope is that repurposing the building will reverse some of the economic inequalities in the city, while creating new jobs in the area.

"The opportunity zones are a chance to bring those walkable jobs back to the city," Helfrich said. "They think 80 jobs were eliminated when Metso closed down ... that space is big enough to generate 1,000 jobs."

It will be a few years before people see any major renovations to the space, though, Hynes said, since Metso is leasing part of the property for storage space until June 2020.

"We don't know what it's going to be yet," Nace said. "But I think it has the potential to be a great success. You know what they say, 'What York builds, builds York.'"

Also of interest, explore the decaying old York prison through this gallery.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Buy Photo

This is the facade of the old York County Prison on East Chestnut Street in York. United Fiber & Data plans to gut the interior and use it as part of a new data center. The prison has sat vacant since 1979.
Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record
Caption Override Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

This prison cell was spray-painted by an uninvited guest inside the old York County Prison in York. The long-vacant building was recently purchased by United Fiber & Data, which plans to gut the interior and use it as the mechanical backbone for a new data center.
Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

Pieces taken from the interior of the old York County Prison will be incorporated into the new structure. Here is an artist's rendering of the new UFD data center that will incorporate the old York County Prison. The renderings are by Warehaus. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record

Pieces taken from the interior of the old York County Prison will be incorporated into the new structure. This is an artist's rendering of the new UFD data center that will incorporate the old prison. The renderings are by Warehaus. Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record